Live-Timing : Introduction

Documentation

More complete documentation for Live-Timing will be done as time allows. In the meantime, below is an explanation that is included in the Software. Also, the Live-Timing FAQ may be helpful.

Overview

If your computer can be connected to the Internet, you can have your race viewed online!

Your race will be on the web site: Live-Timing.com.

It's very simple to do, but there are a few things you need to be aware of:

Once the information on this page is filled in and your race is registered at Live-Timing.com, any changes you make to the competitor data will be reflected on the website. This happens transparently, but you need to be aware of what is online. Presenting accurate and complete data is VERY IMPORTANT.

While timing the race, the data is sent whenever anything happens (start, finish, dnf, etc.). You time the race as you normally would and the data is sent automatically. This allows viewers to see the results immediately. But, it also allows them to see any errors until they're corrected. This is exactly the same situation as other unofficial methods of presenting results such as line displays (scoreboards), posting board, or by an announcer. People are accustomed to seeing errors in sports data from time to time; but, they expect them to be corrected quickly. There is, understandably, a close correlation between how quickly errors are corrected and how accepting people are of those corrected results.

It's important to remember that the results for a ski race often changes after the timing is completed. This could be due to circumstances such as DSQs or a jury decision over a provisional re-run.

In addition to relying on the data at Live-Timing being updated as you make changes within the software, there is a button on the Live-Timing tab (this screen) to "Upload All Competitors". This button is only visible once the race is registered. It will clear out all of the competitor data on Live-Timing.com for your race and upload it again; all in one go in its current state. When you use this button, you will see it counting down the lines of data being sent at the bottom of the screen.

You should not close the software or your Internet connection until this count gets to zero!

It is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED you use the "Upload All Competitors" button after timing a run and after any important changes have been made to the results to ensure that the website accurately reflects the race.

It is also recommended that you look at or watch your race at Live-Timing.com yourself to ensure the website accurately represents the race, especially once the race is complete.

Messages

Once your race is registered another button will be visible called "Other Options" with a drop down menu. This menu includes an option to "Send a Message". If your race is registered, you'll see a button on the timing screen for this, as well. These options allow you to send a message that comes up at the top of the race on Live-Timing.com. It's an excellent way to keep everyone informed. If there's a delay because of weather, put a message up explaining; if there's a hold for course repair, put a message up… It's simple to do, keeps everyone well informed, and makes you and your resort or club look very professional!

Attached Reports

In addition to the Live data going to the website you can also post reports. These are called "Attached Reports". Simply create the report using the options in the software and when the report is visible on the screen (preview page), click on the button at the bottom to "Attach to Live-Timing". You'll be asked to specify a name for the report and then the report will be sent to the website. As with the "Upload all Competitors" option, you'll see the number of lines counting down as the report is sent. Don't close the software until this gets to zero.

Attaching reports is another way to look professional and keep viewers informed. Any number of reports may be attached.

Tip: You can actually edit any report while it's on the preview screen before sending it as an Attached Report to Live-Timing.com. You could even create a report and once it's on preview, delete the entire report and type in or paste whatever you want. Using this technique you could attach minutes from a meeting or a schedule for a multi-race series, etc.

If a report needs to be unattached (deleted), it can be done via the "Other Options" menu on the Live-Timing tab of the software.